Tag: heating

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Looks like the Pixel 2 February update has brought along some major issues. A lot of users, both at Reddit as well as Google’s own forums, are complaining about their units getting warm (even with normal usage) and battery draining comparatively faster. If you take a detailed look at these online communities, there are some users who say they aren’t facing any such issues, but their number is pretty small compared to those who are complaining. And many have confirmed these issues while the device is in safe mode, so the possibility of third-party apps being culprit is clearly ruled…

A few weeks back we reported that TiVo support for automation service IFTTT was inbound, and enthusiasts would be able to integrate a whole new set of applets into their workflow. Well, that day has arrived, and the new applets even include limited Alexa and Google Home integration. Wiser heating systems have also received IFTTT integration.

Wiser, for the unfamiliar, is an electronic heating solution by the British company Drayton, sort of like Nest’s thermostats.

A secret project that started in the labs of X, Alphabet's moonshot factory previously known as "Google X," is now a standalone company called "Dandelion." According to its website, Dandelion aims to make geothermal heating and cooling systems more a…Engadget RSS Feed

The Norwegian Oil Ban

In 2020, Norway will become the first country in the world to ban the use of oil and paraffin to heat buildings. Vidar Helgesenlaid, the nation’s Environment Minister, laid it out clearly in a statement: “Those using fossil oil for heating must find other options by 2020.”

The nation recommends citizens look into alternatives such as heat pumps, hydroelectricity, or even special stoves that burn wood chips. Eventually, the legislation could expand to include limitations on using natural gas to heat buildings.

Marius Holm, head of ZERO, a foundation that promotes emissions cuts, shared his enthusiasm about the ban in a statement, saying, “This is a very important climate measure that significantly cuts emissions, sending a powerful signal that we are moving from fossil to renewable energy.”

The Scandinavian Climate Change Charge

The ban marks a radical change in policy for Norway. Despite ratifying the Paris Agreement, the nation showed a 3.3 percent increase in emissions last year compared to 1990, and it was the 15th largest oil exporter worldwide based on 2016 statistics. This new policy could potentially decrease the country’s emissions by 340,000 tons per year.

Perhaps more importantly, Norway’s ban could set a precedent that encourages other countries to decrease their own emissions by targeting the building sector, which accounts for 39 percent of CO2 emissions in the United States. This could make a huge difference in our climate situation when combined with pledges to limit the energy consumption of the transport sector.

In an effort to make our homes truly smart, companies have been working on transforming multiple aspects of our everyday life into connected objects. Though we now have smart lights, smart home assistants, and even smart coffee makers, one of the first connected units to hit the market was the connected thermostat. Now that these smart thermostats have been on the market for quite a while, a number of companies have make their own versions that have their own unique appeal.

So which are the best? Let’s find out.

Nest Learning Thermostat

When people think about smart thermostats, Nest is often the first option that comes to mind. The first generation of the system was released way back in October of 2011, and was one of the catalysts that started the smart home revolution that would eventually become it’s own industry. Nest was acquired by Google is 2014, but still retains it’s own company direction under Alphabet Inc. The company is currently on the third iteration of the product which was released back in 2015, but all consumer versions of Nest continue to be compatible with the latest firmware.

The Nest Learning Thermostat can be installed where any other thermostat was previously wired, and has a large screen to show you the current temperature, heating/cooling modes, and other statistics. There is a dial surrounding the round thermostat which lets you adjust the temperature on the fly, and you can also control the climate of your house with the integrated app. In addition, Nest works with Amazon Echo and Google Home, so you can use your voice to change the temperature of your house whenever you like.

Nest learns over time. If you start setting the house to warmer in the evenings and cooler during the day, it will build a schedule around this lifestyle. Eventually, you shouldn’t have to adjust anything at all, since Nest will know just what you like and when you like it. Nest can also use your phone’s location data to sense when you’re away, and will save energy while you’re not using your house.

Ecobee4 Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat

The Ecobee4 Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat is one of the main competitors to Nest, and is aiming to do perform the same core function with some added smarts. The Ecobee4 can connect to your phone just like the Nest, and allows you to set the temperature from anywhere at any time. Ecobee4 can use room sensors to detect the areas of your house that need the most help, and will intelligently alter the climate to make sure you’re comfortable.

The room sensors that work with Ecobee4 can detect specific aspects of the individual rooms you place them in, and can tell the thermostat to supply hot or cold air to these rooms in particular in order to maintain a comfortable temperature. The Ecobee4 can also send you monthly reports on your energy usage and savings, so you can see firsthand how much more energy efficient your home is with the unit.

The Ecobee4 works with Amazon Echo, Apple Homekit, IFTTT, Samsung Smart Things, and more, so you’ll always have a convenient place to manipulate your home’s climate. Whether it’s with your voice, through an app, or an IFTTT module, the Ecobee4 can keep your home comfortable for years to come. Updated from the previous Ecobee3, the Ecobee4 actually has Amazon’s Alexa personal assistant built in, which means it can do any of the things that the Amazon Echo can do. Whether it’s setting timers, playing music, or even helping you with your cooking, your thermostat can now do it all.

Honeywell Lyric Round

The Honeywell Lyric Round is very similar to the Nest learning thermostat in that it works as a round dial with a circular screen for data monitoring. The location-based temperature control monitors where you are in comparison to your home, and will wake the thermostat when you are nearby. It can also detect the humidity of your home, and will work to regulate it to a comfortable state. The thermostat can determine if it needs to heat or cool your home based on your unique temperature settings, so you will always have a comfortable feeling home.

Since this thermostat can also regulate humidity, it includes a “Feels like” setting which will make sure the temperature you get feels like the temperature you want. After using the thermostat over a bit of time, the Lyric Round will start detecting when you want your house to be certain temperatures, and can learn when to heat or cool your house.

The Lyric Round works with Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, IFTTT, and Samsung Smart things, so you shouldn’t have to worry about this thermostat not being “smart enough” for your needs. You can control the temperature and humidity with your voice, or adjust the settings easily with the manual dial on the unit. You can also enable push notifications to alert you when you need new filters for your heating and air conditioning units, or when there are extreme temperatures in your house that could be making your family or pets uncomfortable.

Neatatmo Smart Thermostat

If you’re not in the US and looking for something a little more eccentric, the Neatatmo Smart Thermostat might be for you. The unit features a very boxy design which stands alone without being mounted on your wall, and features a number of different colors that can be selected to fit your home’s unique style. The Neatatmo doesn’t use a bunch of buttons, but rather relies on mobile app in order to change and monitor your cooling and heating usage. You can use their standalone monitoring website to see how much energy you’ve saved over time, and set schedules to keep you home set to your unique settings.

Because the Neatatmo is connected to Wi-Fi, you’re able to control it from anywhere in the world. You can also control it using multiple smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa and Apple Homekit, so your voice can be your remote if you prefer to use that. The company says that by intelligently regulating the temperature to use less energy while you are out and asleep, the Neatatmo can save you up to 37% on your energy costs every year. Since the thermostat is battery powered, you can house it in any room you like, or keep it on your wall if you prefer to have it mounted there. The boxy design lets it be placed nearly anywhere, so you’re able to take it around your house so you always know what temperature your home is without having to open your phone.

The Neatatmo is not currently available in the US, but the company says that it’s hoping to bring it to this market soon. It is most widely available in the UK, but you should be able to get one and use it in most European countries. Having the ability to use your thermostat as a piece of decor is pretty interesting, and we love that you can bring it around with you anywhere you like.

Schneider Electric Wiser Air Thermostat

The Schneider Electric Wiser Air Thermostat isn’t quite as good looking as other options on the market, but it includes a variety of features that you’ll find difficult to get anywhere else. The wiser has special LEDs built into the physical unit that will tell you how your system is running, so you’ll always know if your house is being cooled or heated with a quick glance. It also has sensors that know when you’re nearby, and will change from a general temperature monitoring mode to a manipulation mode when you walk up to it.

The Wiser has a special feature called “comfort boost” which will burst out 15 minutes of hot or cold air in order to rapidly regulate your home’s temperature. This is great for scheduling right before you wake up or have guests over, as it can safe energy right up until you need it most. It can also rapidly humidify or dehumidify your home using the humidity balance feature, so you can always have a home that is just the right feeling. The thermostat can pull weather forecast data off the internet as well, and will use this information to prepare and regulate your home’s temperature effectively.

The thermostat works with an app that allows you to set schedules and unique temperature settings on the fly, and you can also hook it into IFTTT to automate many other features of your home that have internet access. If you aren’t too worried about having the best looking thermostat around but just want something with a ton of features, the Schneider Electric Wiser is worth a good look.

Are there any major options that we missed? A lot of these thermostats have extremely similar features, so you’ll really have to consider the little additions that make one worth it over the other for you. Let us know in the comments below!